what'll sugar do, really?

[rob]

i've read that sugar causes more bubbliness in most soaps, but i'm not terribly clear on why this is, nor on how much sugar i should be using, etc. anyone have any thoughts on the subject?

danke
-rob

 

[Rosey]

I started using sugar recently and I can tell a difference in the bubbliness. It's very clear to me. I use the same recipe but with the sugar, the bubbliness is increased.

I use 1tbs ppo.

 

[JenniferSews]

I use 1 tablespoon per pound of oil. It does make it bubblier but I can't tell you why it works exactly. Probably something to do with the chemical reaction. I should ask my husband when he gets home tonight.

 

[artisan soaps]

..

 

[MagiaDellaLuna]

I'm not sure why it works either, but it does

Ditto. I always use sugar.

I think I use slightly more if my conversions are correct.
60 g of granulated sugar (I use brown sugar) per 1000 g oils.

@ Rob
If you do not already know this, the sugar must be completely dissolved in the water before adding the lye, otherwise you will get sharp, crunchy bits in your soap.

The addition of sugar also seems to add to the hardness of the soap.

 

[amanda131]

Yep! Doesn't matter weather it's HP or CP I use 1 TBL Per pound of Oils dissolved in my water BEFOR my lye and it makes for great bubbles! I also can't tell you why but it does! and who am I to queston!!

 

[Deb]

i've been splitting my water in half, having half with the lye, half with sugar and salt and adding them at hte last moment when the lye cools down. It seems to stop the sugar from caramelising and turning the water yellow.

 

[ChrissyB]

I measure my water, measure my lye. Add sugar to water and stir, leave for a bit, stir, repeat until all dissolved. That's very important. If you don't dissolve the sugar properly you will have toffee.
When it's all dissolved I add the lye, stir until dissolved and then leave. I might give it a stir every ten minutes or so while I am doing other things like gettting fo's ready, colourants, lining moulds etc.
I believe that it does add to the bubbles. I use 4% castor in my recipe too, so that helps, but I can tell a difference with the sugar. Now, sugar and silk in soap is a lovely silky creamy lather!
Chemistry is amazing isn't it?

 

[MagiaDellaLuna]

i've been splitting my water in half, having half with the lye, half with sugar and salt and adding them at hte last moment when the lye cools down. It seems to stop the sugar from caramelising and turning the water yellow.

I have always been so phobic about adding lye to water and not ever water to lye that I forgot that only applies to dry lye.

This sounds like a brilliant idea and will hopefully also produce a less smelly coffee/lye solution. I will try it, thanks.

 

[Vintageliving]

i've been splitting my water in half, having half with the lye, half with sugar and salt and adding them at hte last moment when the lye cools down. It seems to stop the sugar from caramelising and turning the water yellow.

I have always been so phobic about adding lye to water and not ever water to lye that I forgot that only applies to dry lye.

This sounds like a brilliant idea and will hopefully also produce a less smelly coffee/lye solution. I will try it, thanks.

It sounds like a good idea to me, too. Thanks!

 

[vivcarm]

Am I the only one who isn't fussed for sugar? I tried it and yes it was more bubbly but at the expense of lovely creamy lather, I don't think I will be trying that again!

 

[Bigmoose]

I make a sugar syrup and then keep it in a bottle and I add mine at light trace. To make the syrup I cook on the stove 2 parts sugar and 1 part water. Cook it till it is smooth and clear then it is super easy to add to any batch.

Bruce

 

[MagiaDellaLuna]

I make a sugar syrup and then keep it in a bottle and I add mine at light trace. To make the syrup I cook on the stove 2 parts sugar and 1 part water. Cook it till it is smooth and clear then it is super easy to add to any batch.

Bruce

I could hug a Moose right now

All these fabulous practical ideas are great.

I suppose you weigh out your sugar say for 10 batches, then make the syrup.

Use 1/10 of the syrup per batch ?

 

[rob]

thanks, everyone, for the info

very helpful stuff.

the reason i'd asked was, i made some soapwith a LOT of coconut oil, like maybe 60%, with 35% olive oil and 5% sunflower. basically, i was clearing out some excess oils; i have used more olive oil than coconut everytime. the soap with the high % of coconut is bubbly and awesome, and everyone loves it, but i've read that the overly cleansing nature of coconut can damage the skin. i've had no complaints, but i like to play it safe. i figured that sugar could give me bubbles while playin nice with ppl's skin...

it's interesting that the sugar is added to the water first. i was gonna add it at light trace, and then stir the eff out of the concoction. i use salt to make the bars harder, and i find that the salt works better?/faster! when i add it at trace, rather than to water. of course, it's rarely water, anyway. usually a tea/herbal infusion/coffee whatever, but i'm digressing. what'll happy if i add granulated sugar at light trace? nothing? good things? something TERRIBLE?

-rob

 

[MagiaDellaLuna]

Re: thanks, everyone, for the info

it's interesting that the sugar is added to the water first. i was gonna add it at light trace, and then stir the eff out of the concoction. i use salt to make the bars harder, and i find that the salt works better?/faster! when i add it at trace, rather than to water. of course, it's rarely water, anyway. usually a tea/herbal infusion/coffee whatever, but i'm digressing. what'll happy if i add granulated sugar at light trace? nothing? good things? something TERRIBLE?

-rob

I am not sure whether the sugar will dissolve and it may caramelize during saponification so you may end up with scratchy bits in the soap. You can try it if you are feeling brave and let us know the results, but personally I would not want to risk it.

 

[xyxoxy]

I make a sugar syrup and then keep it in a bottle and I add mine at light trace. To make the syrup I cook on the stove 2 parts sugar and 1 part water. Cook it till it is smooth and clear then it is super easy to add to any batch.

Bruce

I do something very similar. But I use honey in place of sugar and I dissolve equal parts honey and sea salt into double that amount of water (so 25%/25%/50%). I believe the salt helps harden the bar and this is an easy way to just get it all in at once.

I too use a squirt bottle and add my concoction at light trace after most everything else is in the pot. So if the honey heats things up and accelerates trace I can be ready to pour. I have even been known to add a little extra squirt when a batch was slow to trace and I was getting impatient...

ETA: I forgot to say I don't know why it works but I know I almost never soap without it. I get very bubbly bars and have never noticed any lack of good heavy lather. That may be due to the use of Castor in almost every batch.

 

[Bigmoose]

I could hug a Moose right now

All these fabulous practical ideas are great.

I suppose you weigh out your sugar say for 10 batches, then make the syrup.

Use 1/10 of the syrup per batch ?

I just make up enough to last 2 or 3 months then add it 1 teaspoon ppo.

Bruce

 

[IrishLass]

Re: thanks, everyone, for the info

the soap with the high % of coconut is bubbly and awesome, and everyone loves it, but i've read that the overly cleansing nature of coconut can damage the skin. i've had no complaints, but i like to play it safe. i figured that sugar could give me bubbles while playin nice with ppl's skin...

-rob

You can superfat your high % CO soap anywhere from 15% to 20% to counter-balance coconut's highly efficient cleansing power without diluting any of the coconut's bubbly character.

IrishLass

 

[namastecreations]

so do you all add sugar to your ingredients on your labels, or when you sell then??

 

[andreja]

I skimmed over this thread so it might've been mentioned already... I use icing/confectionery sugar, it dissolves in no time.